2025 Fractures Grenache
2025 Fractures Grenache
Fractures Grenache is our blended Premier Cru level Grenache that is based on Polygon No. 2. It sits just below the individual Polygon releases and draws on a broader range of fantastic parcels and soil/rock types. The wine itself shows marvellous tension with the nose managing to be deep, but also lively at the same time. Fresh red fruit and soaring floral aromas are wrapped around a graphite core. Cool fruit character and fresh natural acidity keep this wine on its toes, while its firm schist-derived tannin structure hints at a very long life ahead.
Polygon No. 2 has seen a steady rise to fame in the winery and glass in recent years. This is old vine Grenache on a patch of very hard, bony schist that sits next to Polygon No. 3 and the wines always show great linear drive. Roughly 50% of the fruit comes from there, with 38% from a schist-rich Block 18 and 12% from the schist and clay of Polygon No. 5. Southern Cross Certified organic and biodynamic.
Estate grown and made
Certified organic and biodynamic fruit
[VARIETIES] 100% Grenache
[ALC] 14%
[PRODUCTION] 200 dozen
[CELLARING] 10+ years
The 2025 Fractures Grenache was made with 50% Polygon 2, 38% from the limestone end of Block 18 (which runs up to Kapunda Road), plus 12% Polygon 5 (for structure and darkness). The wine is named after the fractures in the terroirs—vine roots live in the fractures of rock, and it is the key to the unique structure, flavor and energy of the wines made here at Alkina. This is lush. Aromatically, the wine, like the Polygon 5, leads with dark fruit and a sense of plushness, while the palate is imbued with a magnificent outlay of tannins. These hold the fruit and drive the wine, alongside the fine acidity and inherent floral character of the variety. The wine is cool and really good; I love this. The tannins are the superstar. It was produced with 80% whole bunches and a variety of concrete vessels throughout. 14% alcohol, sealed under Diam. In 2024, the vineyard experienced severe frost on September 13, again on the following Tuesday and then the following Thursday. The entire property was impacted. Luckily, it produced a full secondary growth crop that was subsequently thinned to ensure uniformity of bunches
96/100 Erin Larkin, Robert Parker Wine Advocate
Holy cow. I mean, this is wow territory from the first sip. It’s tight, perfumed, spicy, earthen, aflame with rose petal characters, raspberries, minerals, roasted spice and sweet tea. It’s wine, great wine, served as it should be; pure, exotic, controlled and uncontrollable at once. On the one hand it doesn’t take prisoners; on the other hand it’s delicate. There was a time when I might have said that McLaren Vale had stolen the part of my heart where the grenache variety resides; this wine steals
96/100 Campbell Mattinson, Mattinson.com
A new wine in the Alkina lineup! The grenache is 50/38/12% from the bony schists of Polygon 3/from the rich schist of Block 18/from the schist and clays of Polygon 5; fermented with 80% whole bunches in concrete tulips before maturation in a mix of concrete egg, cylinder and stone jar. It brims with energy and nuance. Macerated red plum and cherry fruits suffused with tones of ginger cake, cold tea, fresh and pressed wildflowers, graphite, crushed schist and assorted twiggy tones. I love the minerally cut to its form and the cascade of schisty tannins that settle through the wine. The pure fruit and spice array draw out long and earthy on the exit.
95+/100 Dave Brookes, Halliday Wine Companion
